V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
In journalism school, they tried to teach me to read the New York Times every single day. (I rebelled and listened to NPR - the “station of record,” in my book.) My profs would be smirking now if they knew I had to rely on my friends to point out screamingly relevant articles to me (thank you Barbara, Alison, et al). The latest one that I read three days late is from the Sunday Styles section about the William Morris “branded lifestyle” agent, Jon Rosen, who transforms mere cooking show hosts into money-making machines and household words. If you were, say, a contemporary of Eleanor Roosevelt and someone told you sixty years ago that someday cooking show hosts would be famous and rich and sporting agents whose clientele is virtually dedicated to their type, you’d probably choke on your 5 cent ham sandwich. But so it has come to pass.
I can’t help but remark, too, on the concept behind the new Food Network show featured in the article. “5 Ingredient Fix” is hosted by rising, represented star Claire Robinson and is driven by the new trend of fewer ingredients in the foods we eat, a notion championed by the likes of Michael Pollan and Häagen-Dazs. Imagine Mrs. Roosevelt, digging up something from her Victory Garden, pronouncing the virtue of a White House menu featuring as few ingredients as possible!
Jon Rosen, agent to TV star chefs, with Rachael Ray
